DISCLAIMER: I don't own the titans, nor do I own anything affiliated with them. I do, however, retain the right to call any unique characters I create my intellectual property. That about sums up the disclaimer. Have fun reading the story!

I won't even begin to say how sorry I am about the long wait. Instead, I humbly offer you my next installment to do with as you wish. My only recommendation is that you might want to briefly glance through the last chapter just in case you forgot where we were in the story.

And now, without further adieu, I present to you Chapter 9 - Clandestine Memories!


Raven abruptly awoke amidst a sea of blackness; partially due to the hazy cloud that seemed to have taken up residence in her head, but mostly because her eyes were still closed. A sleepy murmur passed by the young woman's lips and she rolled over on her side, taking careful note of the peculiar manner in which the cloak beneath her frame seemed to bristle atop whatever material she was currently laying upon. Curiosity won out over hesitation, and she opened her eyes briefly only to be assaulted by a painfully bright light. That small injustice brought forth a subdued cry of discomfort from the cloaked girl, and she proceeded to rub her face vigorously before trying again.

As the seconds passed, a pleasantly warm breeze drifted idly by her side, carrying with it the delicate aroma of freshly cut grass along with an invigorating mixture of pine trees and broken earth. Something soft and feather-like tickled the bottom of her ear, and she instinctively swatted it away before sitting upright.

Braving the bright light for a second time, Raven opened her eyes slowly…and blinked in surprise as an oversized strawberry floated right before her line of sight. A sharp flash of confusion promptly overcame her senses, quickly giving way to understanding, and finally instilling within her a firm sense of dissatisfaction.

Sitting cross-legged in the middle of a lush, rolling meadow, Raven could only take in the sights and smells of her conjured surroundings while pondering what exactly had led up to her arrival in Nevermore.

Disjointed images and emotions rose and fell amidst her thoughts, scattering to the four corners of her psyche just as soon as she began to draw any semblance of meaning from them. A few uneventful moments passed, and it was with the greatest reluctance that the young woman let her mind wander outward to examine the all-too-familiar surroundings in which she now found herself.

Unlike the rest of her mindscape, this particular area offered the closest approximation to "normal" that one was likely to find in an environment partially infused with the essence of a demon lord.

Huge earthen pillars rose from the ground in all directions, only to arch painfully backwards and once again fall under the duress of gravity. Unkempt grass casually mixed with fresh wildflowers in a relaxed manner, alluding to a beautiful summer's day set against the background of a pale yellow sky.

Droves of strawberries floated lazily by in the mid-afternoon sunlight, adding a bit of comic relief to an otherwise serene environment.

All these things and more began to tread heavily on Raven's nerves, wearing thin the fine line between emotional stability and dynamic upheaval. Despite the ill-at-ease feelings that always seemed to accompany her journey to this locale, the young woman was inevitably drawn ever closer to the realization that of all the pains she may have to endure in her life, at least there were moments like these in which she could relax, despite the overtly cheerful atmosphere, and simply enjoy a little peace and -

"Hiya Raven! What's up?" A slight pause ensued, followed by an indignant sigh from Raven's lips. She took one last glimpse at the peaceful landscape set around her before brushing off a few stray blades of grass and standing up. The empath turned to address the speaker, making sure to cast a scathing glower upon the one person she could have gone at least another few millennia before seeing again.

"Hello…Happy." The pink clad Emotion unleashed a cherubic grin that cut right through her counterpart, and proceeded to playfully bat away a strawberry that had wandered too close. With a quick adjustment of the hood that rested gently upon her shoulders, the energetic young woman seemed little more than an overgrown child.

"So… ya wanna play a game with me?" Raven's left eyebrow twitched involuntarily, sending a clear message that perhaps this wasn't quite the best…

"Yeah! We could play tag, or hopscotch, or jump rope …or…oh! How about truth or dare?" With each suggestion, the empath's ire steadily began to rise, leading her down a path that would soon prove most unpleasant for her rosy alter ego.

Happy slapped both hands together in a jovial manner and produced such a radiant smile that her dark clad companion momentarily feared the grass around them would burst into flames.

"No no no, wait! We could play spin the bottle! You could bring Cyborg, and Aqualad, and…"

A mental spasm prompted the gloomy young woman to consider the fact that Happy's ramblings might be best ended now before they truly had a chance to begin.

"Happy, I don't think…"

"And Speedy, and…hmm, Starfire might get mad if Robin comes along…so…"

"We're not playing any games, Happy, all I want is…"

"Beast Boy too, you're right!"

The exuberant girl cast her counterpart a matter-of-fact look.

"He's the reason for all the strawberries, ya know."

A prominent vein on Raven's forehead began to pulse ominously, providing a clear warning that Happy was continuing this conversation at her own risk.

"If you don't stop this nonsense right now, I promise I'll…"

"Bring Rune! How could I forget? Isn't he cute? You're so lucky that he likes you and all. If it were up to me, I'd have already…"

A mischievous smile quickly worked its way across the lips of the lively Emotion.

"Ya know…we could always rig the bottle, if ya wanted…"

Raven's pale skin tone instantly flushed crimson, and in response, a passing strawberry abruptly veered off course in its evident haste to bop the young woman right on the cheek.

Her free spirited persona immediately burst into a fit of giggles.

"I think it likes you, Rae! Maybe you should practice by kissing him!" As another wave of laughter overtook her alter ego, Raven's countenance abruptly changed from crimson to purple.

With a violent wave of her hand, the offending piece of fruit was engulfed in a midnight-black sphere of ominous dark energy. A second later, Happy was covered in the sticky (yet delicious) remains of a hapless victim that had been subjected to a lethal dose of obsidian vengeance.

"ENOUGH! Just tell me why I'm here so I can go home and meditate!"

The pink-clad figure was just starting to suck some strawberry jam off a loose strand of lavender hair when her smile drooped ever so slightly, and the passionate sparkle that had been ever-present in her eyes vanished all together.

"You…you don't r-remember?" At this, Raven's teeth began to grate together and she cast a biting glower at the girl before her.

"No, I don't. The last thing I remember is talking to Rune, and then…something about…mother." The young woman's features softened a bit at the memory of Arella, but she pushed her sentiments aside and continued on.

"That's it. Everything else is hazy. Now, I'll ask you again. Why am I here?" For an instant, Happy didn't seem as if she had registered the question, but after a moment, she briskly pulled her hood up and turned a bit off center.

"There's lots of other games we could play too, ya know. Those big rock pillars are great for hide and seek, and…we could always pick some flowers…or something." Despite the obvious ploy to redirect Raven's attention, the exuberant Emotion just couldn't seem to muster the usual zeal she normally had in such abundance.

That fact did not go unnoticed by the dark young woman, and it was with a cautious tone that she pursued her line of questioning, wary of what might dull the sharp contrast between herself and the blissful girl who stood but a few steps away.

"I don't want to play any games. I just want to know the truth. If you won't tell me, then I'll just find Wisdom and -"

"No!" A pained expression momentarily flickered across Happy's face, but it was enveloped by a strained grin the very next moment, leaving Raven with the distinct impression that something was dangerously out of place in Nevermore.

A chill breeze unexpectedly wafted through the expansive meadow, instilling within the surrounding countryside a distinct sentient feel as ripples of emerald grass pawed at the surreal landscape like some huge anxiety-ridden beast. It was in this manner that a tangible sense of unease gradually settled upon both young women.

"I - I mean there's plenty of other things we could do, too, like looking at the clouds…or hopscotch."

The empath picked up on Happy's slip immediately, and decided to drive home her point once and for all. With a deadpan tone both in her eyes and voice, Raven pressed the personified facet one more time.

"You already said that. The only time you repeat yourself is when something bothers you, and I know it takes a whole lot to do that, so stop acting like nothings the matter and just tell me before somebody gets hurt."

From beneath her newly donned pink hood, the nervous figure cast her dreary counterpart a darting glance before dipping her head forward in resignation.

Whether out of malice or as an ardent pursuit of the truth, the dark young woman thrust a verbal knife into her alter ego and twisted it viciously.

"On the other hand, it might be interesting to see how wide you can smile after the blood of innocents stains your cloak red. I won't be able to tell you and father apart."

Raven watched as Happy stiffened momentarily, and then slumped forward under the harsh words cast out by someone who had experienced first hand the true meaning of cruelty and hardship. With her next breath, the unusually somber Emotion conceded the point and spoke in a tone all but void of joy and mirth.

"…Wisdom sent me to stall you so that she could have a little more time."

Raven's eyebrows furrowed in suspicion.

"More time for what? How does blocking my memories help anything?"

A sigh escaped the girl in pink, and she shook her head gently from side to side, almost as if she were pleading for release.

"Please…don't ask me anymore…it hurts."

"What hurts? The memories? Tell me what happened so I can help make things right!"

Had her face not been partially hidden beneath the hood she now wore, the empath might have noticed the saddened, tight-lipped frown portrayed across Happy's features.

"Rae, please …I…it hurts to remember what he did…"

At those words, Raven blinked in surprise.

He? Who's…no…Rune? But…why? What did he do this time…

The dark clad girl gave her counterpart an ill at ease look, trying to filter through this new information in the hopes that an answer would present itself. Her monotone voice remained intact from before, and she continued.

"What did he do, Happy? I don't have time to play with you like this any longer."

Happy shifted her weight a bit, and she looked out across the expansive meadow set before them. A weak snort of laughter escaped her lips, and a steady tremor began to rattle her shoulders.

"He certainly wanted to play…"

The way she said it - the manner in which that final word had been uttered; spit out…Raven's stomach began to churn, and a sickening thought quickly wormed its way into her mind.

Would he have…but how could he…? His personality seems so fragile right now, I just can't believe…

A deep chill coursed through the young woman's spirit, instilling within her a sense of doubt that she was unaccustomed to.

Is this the price I pay for trying to be normal? Am I so naive as to think that maybe…just maybe…Trigon doesn't rule over everyone and everything in my life?

Raven cast a glance over at her lighter half, seeking an answer for the pain she now felt so deeply, or perhaps to find solace in that one aspect of her persona that could find the joy in any circumstance. Despite her wishes, Happy's bleak visage only proved to be a greater burden on the young woman.

Placing her muddled feelings in perspective, the fact was that she hardly even knew him; that Rune was just another obstacle, a test, to be overcome and dealt with as she saw fit. If nothing else, this was a lesson against opening her heart to strangers, and a reminder that new friends lasted only as long as you remained blind to the truth.

A solemn numbness was beginning to branch out within her, and Raven hesitantly conceded the point deep within her heart. Against her nature, a melancholy smirk slid across the young woman's lips as she considered her position.

I should have learned my lesson twice by now…I should have let these feelings die alongside Terra and sealed the rest inside Melchior's book…

A glossy expression overcame the young woman's features, and she spoke out loud, to no one in particular, but rather just to reassert the dark truth that was roaming through her head. Despite her convictions, a passing memory of Rune's innocent smile disrupted her dour outlook, and she was once again riddled with uncertainties.

"Still, I…I think I would remember if Rune had…touched me like that…"

In a moment, the young woman in pink had rounded upon her dreary alter ego, and for the first time, Raven could clearly see the moisture present in the Emotion's eyes. To top it off, Happy cast the girl before her a wounded look, adding to the distraught feelings already present in her abnormally solemn countenance.

"Is that what you think? After all this time, you still can't trust anyone, can you? Rune didn't do anything wrong! He tried to help, but…then he changed, too…"

A hot wave of embarrassment washed through Raven's body all within a single breath. She instantly admonished her suspicious nature for casting doubts upon Rune the very first chance that presented itself. If it had not been apparent before, it was surely obvious now just how much she hated and feared these old and new feelings that accompanied him all throughout her mind, denying her the peace and serenity of knowing that nothing ever changes; that she could close herself off from the world and no one could ever hurt her again.

Despite the earlier outburst, a select few tears now began to trickle down Happy's cheeks, and she spoke in a quaking voice filled with fear and uncertainty.

"N-no matter how hard I look, there's no j-joy to be found in the moment, Raven…I…I don't know what to d-do."

Already ashamed of herself for not having any faith in the young man now present in her life, Raven found it difficult to think of something that would console a person meant to experience only happiness and joy, rather than sadness and pain.

Instead of dwelling on issues beyond her realm of expertise, the young woman decided to quell any distraught feelings and finish this conversation as quickly as possible.

"Happy, you mentioned that he…changed. What did you mean by that?"

The distressed Emotion cast a vacant expression upon her other half, and then let out a forlorn sigh. Pursing both lips together, Happy spoke in a hushed, obsessive tone, accurately depicting the gradual rift that had formed between her natural persona and the situation at hand.

"He…Rune tried to help…but it didn't work, and…then he became someone else..."

"You mean like when he uses his powers? The light in his eyes made him look like another person?"

The girl in pink shook her head.

"No, I mean…he became something else…something…dark. For a few seconds…it wasn't Rune that was standing before us."

Raven's eyes narrowed.

"Us?"

Happy looked away suddenly, obviously uncomfortable in relating whatever more she knew. Despite the young girl's lack of conviction, her darker alter ego placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, and the Emotion glanced back to see a reassuring smile; something she would have given anything to see under normal circumstances. Now, however…

In one sweeping motion, a river of tears began to assail Happy's cheeks, and she crumpled into Raven's arms like a small child seeking the protection of its mother's love. With one hand wrapped around Happy's shoulder and the other held motionless at her side, the empath considered her situation in a new light.

"The one that did this to you…to me…to Rune…it was…"

From within the confines of her dark blue sanctuary, the Emotion issued a muffled response.

"…Daddy."

Raven closed her eyes tightly, fighting back the acidic taste of bile that was building in her mouth.

Again.

The young woman promptly suppressed her own tears that now threatened to well up from somewhere deep inside.

Doctor Light wasn't enough, so now father wants to hurt the people I care about, too.

The empath took a deep breath, held it, and recited her mantra in a slow, methodical fashion. As she exhaled, a peculiar calmness enveloped her person, and she slowly pushed the Emotion back out to arm's length. Still sobbing, her head cast down, Happy leaned heavily against Raven's outstretched palms, obviously not ready to stand on her own.

"Happy, listen to me. I'm going to make everything right again. I need your help, though. Do you think you can do that?"

From beneath her hood, Happy cast Raven a plaintive look, and then slowly nodded.

"Alright, I want you to bring me to Wisdom so I can talk to her." Even as the words left Raven's mouth, the girl in pink cringed and began to shy away. Not one to be deterred so easily, the dark young woman fashioned a stronger grip on the figure and straightened her out.

"She won't be angry with you, I promise…do you trust me?" The young girl directed a solemn glance at her darker half, and once again, she nodded.

Despite herself, Raven let slip a thin crack of a smile. She gently ran a thumb and forefinger down the length of a stray hair protruding from beneath Happy's cloak, and held her hand up for both to see.

"Besides, if Wisdom gets out of line, I'll just smear some strawberry jelly across her face. We'll see how stern she is after that."

Happy let out a choked laugh, and in that moment seemed to regain a bit of her old self, if but only a little.

"You always did have a really good sense of humor, Rae…thanks."

Raven cast her a quizzical look, and the young Emotion could only grin, albeit weakly.

Despite her light-hearted antics, the empath could not shake the dark thoughts that continuously churned and swirled amidst her psyche, begging for release while at the same time pleading to remain unanswered.

As if reading her thoughts, Happy slowly pushed herself back a step, and locked a pair of moist eyes upon the girl standing before her.

"Rae…before you go, you should know that…you were the one who let him in."

Raven, in turn, looked away. That thought had passed through her mind dozens of times in the short while that she was aware of her situation.

"I…I know it was me. That's why I have to fix this before things get out of hand."

The young Emotion studied the dark girl carefully for a few moments, and then nodded in approval. Her tears had finally begun to dry up, and a smile once again found its way upon her face.

"You can do it, Rae. I know you can. We all believe in you, and we'll be there to back you up no matter which path you choose."

A demure expression passed across Happy's features, and she regarded Raven with an impish grin.

"Just remember, if ya reach a point where you can't sense me anymore, turn around and try again, OK?"

With that, Happy cast a playful wink at her alter ego, and vanished.

Immediately, the entire meadow began to blur and pulsate, sending a multitude of visible shockwaves all throughout Raven's field of vision as a result of the abrupt shift in space-time.

Within the span of a second, the young empath found herself standing not amidst grass and wildflowers, but rather atop a dark and ominous twisting stone walkway flanked by steep cliffs leading down to oblivion. Burning red gems filled the perpetually dark sky along with an eclipsed sun encased in a ring of fire. A chilling wetness seemed to hang thick in the air, filling the young woman's nostrils with the sickly-sweet stench of sulfur. The empath absently wrinkled her nose against the familiar odor.

A lean smile crept across Raven's lips, and she took several moments to bask in the glow of something she was able to relate to. It was not often enough that she came to fully appreciate the dismal beauty of her dark inheritance.

Just as a sense of peace began to permeate the thick shell of indifference she kept tightly wrapped around her mind, a thin voice echoed throughout the surrounding area.

"I see Happy was unable to keep you sufficiently occupied for very long."

Raven turned in the direction of the voice, and spied a feminine figure hardly a full stride behind her, looking off into the opposite direction. The young woman was draped in bright yellow, her hood raised and neatly centered.

"I furthermore surmise that you have developed a sizable repertoire of inquiries, by now."

A modest flourish of golden cloth stirred around Wisdom's knees as she turned, presenting a cold, unfeeling persona set behind large, coke-bottle glasses. Pressing the spectacles a bit further up her brow, the scholarly Emotion cast a derisive eye upon her intellectually inferior counterpart.

"Very well, Raven. Along which stimulating tract of thought shall I provide you some clarification?"


Heh heh heh, a bit of a cliffhanger, if I'm not mistaken.

So, what do you think? It's always fun to add new characters into a story, especially ones as fun to work with as Happy and Wisdom.

I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter after such a long break. It really is quite unforgivable how long it took me to update again, and I apologize for that. Now that summer is here, I hope to add a few more chapters to the plot before I must once again return to studying.

Ah, but forget about my moping. What did you guys and gals think of Nevermore? As you can tell, there will be a little more of it to see, but as of now, is it working for you? Should something change? Don't forget to leave a reply and let me know how you think the story is going so far!

Oh! One more thing. A long while back (Just take a look at the published date), I tried my hand at poetry, and decided to center it on the titans. All in all, I thought it came out rather well, and have since posted it on the site under the title "Matters of the Heart". As a kind of apology for having taken so long to update, I offer you this "bonus" of sorts as something else to look at if you wish.

Alright, that's enough from me. Thank you for your continued patronage, and don't forget to leave a review! Until next time, good reading to you!